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Sculpture, Fallen Astronaut

Belgian sculptor Paul van Hoeydonck holds up a copy of the minituare aluminum sculpture he created called "Fallen Astronaut."

Sculpture, Fallen Astronaut

Display Status:

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.

Collection Item Summary:

This fallen astronaut figurine made by Belgian artist Paul van Hoeydonck is similar to the one placed without publicity on the Moon by Apollo 15 commander Dave Scott in August 1971, along with a memorial plaque. Scott intended the gesture to commemorate fourteen U.S. astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts who had died prior to that mission.

The Museum received this statuette on April 17, 1972, the day after CBS anchorman Walter Cronkite revealed, during the broadcast of the Apollo 16 launch, the existence of the "fallen astronaut" and plaque as the first art on the Moon.

Paul Van Hoeydonck donated the artifact to the Museum in 1972.

Collection Item Long Description:

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Restrictions & Rights

Do not reproduce without permission from the Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum